keaster
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2008
- Messages
- 2,101
We just got back tonight from our 5th DCL cruise, first one on the Dream, so thought I'd share some thoughts on our experience, which was amazing:
Embarkation - We had stayed at the Contemporary pre-cruise so we took DCL transportation to the port. We arrived around 1pm, and were on board within a half hour. There were no boarding numbers handed out at that point, and no lineup, just walked on and headed to our rooms to dump our carry-ons. One good tip...don't line up in the terminal to get the wristband for the Club/Lab, we went straight to the Lab and got it there with no waiting.
Rooms - we were in connecting rooms, 9640 and 9642, Category 5a with balcony. Beautiful rooms, love that you can open the balcony dividers between the two. Kind of felt bad for the balcony folks on Deck 5..we could look right down on them since those balconies bump out! The beds are great, lots of storage space.
Service - we had the usual great service as we have had on previous cruises. Our room host Horace was awesome, he showed our daughter how to make a towel stingray and kept things impeccably clean. Our dining team Joselito and Simone were also great, no complaints from us.
Food - I always read on the boards complaints about food, but I can honestly say we didn't have a bad meal in any restaurant (maybe my palate isn't too sophisticated!) We did not eat at Palo or Remy.
Dining Rooms - the dining rooms seem a bit more cramped...we noticed servers bumping into each more often that on previous cruises. Animator's Palate is awesome. We had a table right by a screen, so Crush chatted with us for a bit. Enchanted Garden and Royal Palace are also quite nice.
Public areas - as like everyone else, we read the concerning reports of overcrowding, but I can honestly say it didn't feel any more crowded than other DCL cruises. The only times we really noticed the crowds were in the shops when the first show would let out (really narrow in that area, creates a bottle neck). The pool deck was also crowded on the sea day, but we never seemed to have a hard time finding a chair (mind you, we would only snag one or two, if you were with a big group, it would be more difficult). One area that was weird...when you get to the 11th deck aft, you have to walk through Cabanas to get to the pool. Seems like a weird design thing to me, don't know what they were thinking on that one! Also, the front staircase/elevators open up to the adult pool area, so there were kids coming and going.
Kids/Family Activities - our daughter LOVED the Goofy golf and Midship Detective agency (great way to explore the ship), and everything going on in the Club/Lab. Hubby rode the Aquaduck with our daughter, never noticed any really long lineups for it (maybe 15 minutes tops). At night the thing is practically deserted and it's open to midnight!
Castaway Cay - great weather both days, NEVER had a problem finding two lounges with umbrella by the water. Go the far end of the family beach, most of the crowding happens where people get tired and just stop!!
Debarkation - we had breakfast at 7:30am at Cabanas, then walked off the ship with no lineup, found the luggage, cleared customs, took DCL transportation and were at MCO by 10am.
The ship itself if truly beautiful with great decor throughout. The enchanted art is great, and the Vista Gallery is a great addition (replaces the art auctions by the outside art company and replaces with all Disney art work). Don't let the reports of overcrowding scare you...the cruise director said there were over 1000 (yes one thousand) kids on this cruise, but I didn't notice any huge difference in kids from our previous DCL cruises.
Any questions? Fire away!
Embarkation - We had stayed at the Contemporary pre-cruise so we took DCL transportation to the port. We arrived around 1pm, and were on board within a half hour. There were no boarding numbers handed out at that point, and no lineup, just walked on and headed to our rooms to dump our carry-ons. One good tip...don't line up in the terminal to get the wristband for the Club/Lab, we went straight to the Lab and got it there with no waiting.
Rooms - we were in connecting rooms, 9640 and 9642, Category 5a with balcony. Beautiful rooms, love that you can open the balcony dividers between the two. Kind of felt bad for the balcony folks on Deck 5..we could look right down on them since those balconies bump out! The beds are great, lots of storage space.
Service - we had the usual great service as we have had on previous cruises. Our room host Horace was awesome, he showed our daughter how to make a towel stingray and kept things impeccably clean. Our dining team Joselito and Simone were also great, no complaints from us.
Food - I always read on the boards complaints about food, but I can honestly say we didn't have a bad meal in any restaurant (maybe my palate isn't too sophisticated!) We did not eat at Palo or Remy.
Dining Rooms - the dining rooms seem a bit more cramped...we noticed servers bumping into each more often that on previous cruises. Animator's Palate is awesome. We had a table right by a screen, so Crush chatted with us for a bit. Enchanted Garden and Royal Palace are also quite nice.
Public areas - as like everyone else, we read the concerning reports of overcrowding, but I can honestly say it didn't feel any more crowded than other DCL cruises. The only times we really noticed the crowds were in the shops when the first show would let out (really narrow in that area, creates a bottle neck). The pool deck was also crowded on the sea day, but we never seemed to have a hard time finding a chair (mind you, we would only snag one or two, if you were with a big group, it would be more difficult). One area that was weird...when you get to the 11th deck aft, you have to walk through Cabanas to get to the pool. Seems like a weird design thing to me, don't know what they were thinking on that one! Also, the front staircase/elevators open up to the adult pool area, so there were kids coming and going.
Kids/Family Activities - our daughter LOVED the Goofy golf and Midship Detective agency (great way to explore the ship), and everything going on in the Club/Lab. Hubby rode the Aquaduck with our daughter, never noticed any really long lineups for it (maybe 15 minutes tops). At night the thing is practically deserted and it's open to midnight!
Castaway Cay - great weather both days, NEVER had a problem finding two lounges with umbrella by the water. Go the far end of the family beach, most of the crowding happens where people get tired and just stop!!
Debarkation - we had breakfast at 7:30am at Cabanas, then walked off the ship with no lineup, found the luggage, cleared customs, took DCL transportation and were at MCO by 10am.
The ship itself if truly beautiful with great decor throughout. The enchanted art is great, and the Vista Gallery is a great addition (replaces the art auctions by the outside art company and replaces with all Disney art work). Don't let the reports of overcrowding scare you...the cruise director said there were over 1000 (yes one thousand) kids on this cruise, but I didn't notice any huge difference in kids from our previous DCL cruises.
Any questions? Fire away!
do you recall what time you headed down to get off the ship for debarkation after 7:30 breakfast? we're trying to time out a 9am car service pick-up.
